Bush's Plan Galvanizes Anti-War Activists

(CNSNews.com) - A liberal advocacy group is praising Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) for introducing a bill on Tuesday that would block President Bush's "troop surge" plan for Iraq.

Kennedy's bill would "prohibit the use of funds for an escalation of United States Forces in Iraq above the numbers existing of January 9, 2007."

This comes one day before President Bush is expected to announce a temporary troop increase to calm sectarian violence in Iraq. Press reports said President Bush will tell the nation Wednesday night that he is sending as many as 20,000 more troops to the combat zone.

MoveOn.org thanked Sen. Kennedy for providing the "leadership on Iraq that the American people asked for in November."

"An escalation in Iraq is the wrong way home -- it will make things worse, not better," said Tom Matzzie, MoveOn.org's Washington director.

"Senator Kennedy's legislation is the best hope yet for getting America out of the Iraq quagmire. Every senator -- especially those who would be president -- should support it," Matzzie added.

In an earlier message, MoveOn.org urged grassroots liberals to send a message to Congress by signing a petition opposing an escalation in Iraq.

"Congress must act to block Bush's escalation in Iraq. We need a responsible end to the war, not an escalation," the petition reads.

You Tube, too

MoveOn.org said this week could be "one of the most important decision points about Iraq since the war began."

It may also be one of the noisiest: Another anti-war group is promising that within 24 hours of President Bush's troop-surge announcement, "citizens around the country will hold events and upload personal YouTube appeals and photos calling on their member of Congress to say 'No!' to the President's new plan.

The coordinated protest is being led by Win Without War, and it includes what organizers describe as a "massive" protest march in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27.

Anti-war activists accuse the president of "willfully disregarding" last November's "mandate" to get U.S. troops out of Iraq.

President Bush is scheduled to outline his new war strategy in an address to the nation at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. On Thursday, he's expected to discuss the progress of the war with Army troops at Fort Benning, Ga.